CAT (1) 6:14 Barranco 9 pass from
Davis
(Gorrie kick) 0 - 7
STJ (1) 0:02 Herring 36 yard
run
(Horn kick)
7 - 7
STJ (3) ----- Robertson 7
pass from
Cole
(Horn kick) 14 - 7
October 27, 1995. Carlisle Field.
Game
Conditions: Rainy, windy, tornado watch Game
Temperature: 65 Wind: Variable 10+
The
classic Montgomery Advertiser
headline summed it all up: "Trojans Berry Knights in Mud".
In a
game which matched up the 6 - 2 Catholic Knights and the 2 - 6 St.
James Trojans vying for the remaining playoff spot in Class 3A Area 4,
not many pundits gave the Trojans much of a chance, especially due to
the foul weather.
And after the first drive of the game, where Catholic traveled a quick
53 yards for a touchdown, it appeared they were correct. However,
the Trojan defense stood tall and failed to allow another point, while
fullback Mark Berry had a career night rushing, as St. James
surprised the Knights
and captured the runner-up playoff spot in Area 4 with a messy, but
ultra-rewarding 14 - 7
victory.
After a nearly 40 yard kickoff return, the Knights were in good field
position immediately. Eight rushing plays later, courtesy of John
Rose and Mike Caple, and one quickly deteriorating field later,
Catholic was at the Trojan 9 yard line, where Matt Davis connected with
Jeff Barranco on the first pass attempt of the game, a touchdown.
Jason Gorrie's extra point gave the Knights a 7 - 0 lead halfway
through the first quarter.
The Knights would only make two first downs the remainder of the game
as the Trojan defense stood as it had not done all season.
However, the offense was giving them plenty of chances. St. James
entered the Catholic side of the field on each of its five first half
possessions, but punted once, turned the ball over on downs once,
fumbled once (on the Catholic 15), and was intercepted once, by
Barranco who had caught the touchdown pass earlier. However, on
the second drive, Sequon Herring did cash in once for St. James as he
carried in from the Knight 36 late in the first quarter, and Jason
Horn's kick, certainly no gimme in the rain, was good, leading to a 7 -
7 tie after one quarter.
The Trojans took the lead on their second possession of the third
quarter. After allowing a short punt to die in a puddle at the
Knight 43, St. James moved 8 plays, with the final one a 7 yard pass
from Rob Cole to Josh Robertson for a touchdown. Horn's kick had
the St. James sidelines (and press box) dancing and screaming with a
surprise 14 - 7 lead.
Catholic was by no means finished, as they punted deep and recovered a
Trojan fumble at the St. James 11 with 3 minutes remaining in the
game. However, the first three plays netted minimal yardage, and
a fourth down desperation pass was intercepted by Will Webber at the
Trojan 4. However, Catholic had timeouts remaining and forced the
Trojans to punt from deep in their territory. Despite the all out
punt block being called, Horn's kick caught a miraculous wind and
carried nearly all the way to midfield while using valuable clock
time. With 34 seconds remaining, Catholic was going to try
a desperation pass, but the ball was knocked out of quarterback Davis's
hand and recovered by Trojans so muddy their gold numbers were almost
unreadable. It did not matter, as it took St. James only one play
to run out the clock on one of the biggest upsets in Trojan history as
it would be 3 - 6 St. James, not 6 - 3 Catholic, advancing to the
playoffs in two weeks, with a crossdown showdown at St. Jude as a
tune-up the following Friday.
SIDELINE
STATISTICS - GAME NINE (not yet available)